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Former Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson has described their first season under Louis Van Gaal as “one step forward, two steps back” as a result of injuries.

Some of Manchester United players like Phil Jones have spent more time on dressing table than on the pitch this season and coach Louis van Gaal has struggled to find the right balance because of these injury issues. And Sir Alex Fergusson believes that it is a key behind the struggles of the club this season. However, he was quick to note that new boss Louis van Gaal is not to blame for this situation.

“Phil Jones is injured again, can you believe that?” Sir Alex said. He was speaking at an event at London’s Theatre Royal Drury Lane, to publicise the latest edition of his autobiography. “It’s no wonder they look fragile at the back. You have to have a consistent relationship at centre back. But they seem to get injured all the time, it’s always a different pair. When we bought Jones and [Chris] Smalling as youngsters we never for a moment thought they would get all these injuries. This season at Manchester United, we have taken one step forward, two steps back.”

However, Ferguson was quick to note that Louis van Gaal is not the one to be blamed.

”He (Van Gaal) has the stubbornness, the determination to get it right,” Sir Alex said.

Some critics have accused Sir Alex that he bequeathed an ageing squad to David Moyes but the Scot was quick to justify his decisions. “That is an insult,” Sir Alex said. ‘We left [David] De Gea, the Da Silva twins, Jones, Smalling, Danny Welbeck, Tom Cleverley, there was youth everywhere. I never spoke about United being an old team. There was [Patrice] Evra and [Nemanja Vidic]. But they were in their thirties, that’s the peak of a players’ profession now.”

Sir Alex Fergusson also chose to defend his decision to appoint David Moyes as his successor. “I thought he was a good choice,” he said. “At the time, everyone thought that. He had the work ethic, he was loyal, decent. And don’t forget, he had the courage to take on the job.”

It is being reported in the British media that Sir Alex Fergusson had a hand in David Moyes’ dismissal. But the former Manchester United coach revealed in his interview that he had no role in his dismissal. “When I was manager it was right for me to have a say in that sort of thing,” he said. “It was quite right the directors asked my advice. After I left, it was Ed Woodward [Manchester United executive vice chairman’s] responsibility.”